February 6, 2020
The School is monitoring the situation regularly and is taking a dynamic approach to this complex and changing picture, following the advice of Public Health England (PHE), to ensure the health of our whole community, including pupils and staff.
School measures addressing the Novel Coronavirus: additional update
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has advised against all but essential travel to China. As a result, the School strongly advises against pupils travelling to, or receiving visitors from, China during the February half term. We are now stating that anyone choosing not to follow this advice will be required to self-isolate in the UK for a period of 14 days before being allowed back into School. The School has also placed restrictions on all other visits to and from China, including those by staff. These restrictions may yet extend to other parts of the globe beyond China: this will typically reflect FCO travel advisories to identify the outbreak hotspots.
It is highly likely that restrictions will still be in place at Easter and everyone should now plan for that eventuality. Any person travelling to or receiving visitors from an area that has an FCO travel advisory in place or is subject to an FCO travel advisory before the start of the Election Term, will be required to self-isolate in the UK for a period of 14 days before being allowed back into School. If any families are intending to travel to a country despite FCO advice, we require that family to notify the School of your travel plans in advance – please contact the Matron in the first instance if this were to be the case. The School reserves the right to refuse access to School where it has concerns about appropriate self-isolation.
Importantly, if any pupil were not able to return to school because of the self-isolation procedures, they would have suitable alternative provision arrangements made for them so that they were not academically disadvantaged.
Should the virus begin to spread within the UK, this guidance will be updated in accordance with the Chief Medical Officer’s requirements.
The whole of the school community is being fully supportive of those with friends and family in affected areas and we are well aware of the significant burden of any restrictions the School makes. Please be assured, however, that the health and welfare of each and every member of the school community is our primary concern.
We continue to be extremely grateful to everyone for your ongoing support and engagement at this difficult time.
